Derek Hill has seemingly pulled ahead of Dane Myers for the Marlins starting center field job, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Both players have put up solid numbers this spring, and Jackson suggests they’re each likely to begin the year on the active roster.
Hill, 29, is out of options and cannot be sent down without going on waivers. The former first-round pick has bounced around the waiver wire for the past couple seasons. Miami claimed the speedster last August. Hill hit .234/.259/.402 with four homers through 114 plate appearances. He showed decent pop but struck out 39 times while drawing only two walks. Hill’s plate discipline has been an issue throughout his career. He’s a .233/.276/.353 hitter with a 30% strikeout rate in 476 big league plate appearances.
Myers has better numbers in a smaller sample. The 29-year-old has a .265/.315/.407 slash through 178 trips to the plate. That’d be difficult to sustain unless he improves upon a 30.9% strikeout rate. Myers still has an option remaining, so the Marlins could send him to Triple-A. His ability to play all three outfield positions would give him a good chance to stick as a fourth outfielder even if he loses the center field camp battle.
Hill has hit .259/.375/.481 with five walks and seven strikeouts in nine games this spring. He has connected on a pair of home runs. Myers is hitting .300/.481/.300 with seven walks and strikeouts apiece over nine contests. He doesn’t have an extra-base hit yet.
The Marlins have very little certainty in their position player group. Right fielder Jesús Sánchez and shortstop Xavier Edwards are the only two players who should have lineup spots secured even if they get out to slow starts. There’s more stability in the rotation. Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer, Cal Quantrill and Edward Cabrera entered camp with decent holds on starting spots.
Cabrera’s status could be in question after he left Thursday’s start with a blister on his middle finger (link via Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald). Manager Clayton McCullough downplayed the concern, though this has been a recurring issue. A blister on the same finger sent Cabrera to the injured list in the final week of the 2021 season.
Even if he’s healthy enough to start the season, the 26-year-old righty’s performance could put his rotation spot in jeopardy. Cabrera has been rocked for 10 runs on seven hits (including three homers) with four walks and two hit batters in only 3 2/3 innings this spring. Valente Bellozo, who had a 3.67 ERA but uninspiring peripherals in 13 starts last season, would probably be the next man up. Bellozo hasn’t done himself many favors in camp either, allowing 10 runs on 14 hits (four homers) through 8 1/3 frames.
In other news out of camp, 2024 first-round pick PJ Morlando will not play in the Spring Breakout prospect series. Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports that Morlando underwent an ulnar nerve transposition on his left (non-throwing) elbow on Wednesday. He’ll be sidelined for 8-10 weeks and will begin the season on the minor league injured list. Morlando, a lefty-hitting outfielder, was the 16th pick out of high school last summer. A back injury limited him to one game after the draft. Baseball America ranks him eighth among Miami prospects, praising his offensive upside but writing that he’ll likely end up in the corner outfield or at first base.
Myers is simply the better player.
Both are just place holders til Jakob Marsee is ready.
Hill had better results in AAA last year compared to Myers. You’re judging based on small sample sizes. Hill was also bounced around the league, majors and minors, last year. The Marlins should see what he’s got over a larger sample size.
Peter Bendix’ debut 1st round pick with the Marlins is a guy who cant stay healthy, a really bad choice so far for a team who has to start getting it right with their opening round choices
Norby also has a starting position secured.
Marlins… worst ever baseball franchise? I’ll always be a Yankee fan, but having moved to Florida 6 years ago it’d be nice to follow a local team. The Rays and Marlins seem determined to stop that.
It seemed like they were on a decent trajectory with playoff appearances in ’20 and ’23, then Alcantara got injured, Sherman did a complete 180 and Ng was fired and everything went back to the pre-Jeter days.
They still have decent pitching, but so many unproven hitters at the MLB level will either make them really fun to watch, or unbearably brutal
Bendix is operating with his former employer’s philosophy of the Rays org
It’s going to be awhile before Marlins are good unless they have several young guys break out this year (unlikely).
Derek Hill will always be a DH !!
Cabrera has been a huge disappointment he had such a high ceiling and has not panned out to be a front line starter. The injuries keep coming, thus he seems to be destined to back of rotation starter.
It is frustrating that PJ Morlando is injured. A lot of people are looking to see if Bendix and his team can break it’s run of Draft and international signing position players not making it to the bigs.
The only position player who finished ’24 on the Miami 28 man roster drafted or internationally signed by the team is Nick Fortes.
Since Sherman bought the team JJ Bleday is the only other draftee in the MAjors, and he had to be fixed up in Oakland.
Joe Mack is likely next man up and there is still hope for Mesa, Johnston (& Nasim Nunez{Nats})